Does the thought of your spouse taking half your business keep you up at night? Do you worry about how you’ll live after a divorce? Are you concerned your spouse won’t pay for your children’s needs? These and many others are valid questions from our clients over the years. It’s why our bilingual firm’s mission is to provide excellent family law services to bring peace to families and help people move quickly to the next phase of a better life and the happiness they deserve.
Choosing a divorce and family attorney is one of the most important decisions a person can make. At Divorce & Mediation Law Firm | Cabanas Law Firm, we set high standards for quality, experience, ethics, and dedication to client satisfaction.
One excellent way to evaluate a divorce attorney before hiring them is through their Martindale-Hubbell rating. The article below shares more details about the Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating and why it is crucial when choosing a divorce and family law firm. Read on to learn more, then call us at (954) 447-2580 to schedule a confidential consultation.
What Is a Martindale-Hubbell Rating?
The Martindale-Hubbell Attorney Peer Review rating system evaluates attorneys for their legal ability and ethics. This system invites Bar and Judiciary members to rate attorneys anonymously in similar practice areas and geographic locations.
Martindale established this peer-review rating system in 1887 to give the public a way to determine whether an attorney was trustworthy, ethical, and skilled in their field. Before the creation of the Martindale-Hubbell rating system, consumers had no standard method of reviewing an attorney’s legal abilities before hiring them.
Today, members of the Bar and the Judiciary can participate in a secure survey online where they review their peers. At the completion of the review process, the attorney may receive a rating indicating their ethical and professional standard.
The rating criteria and method have evolved since 1887, but the goal of the Martindale-Hubbell rating system has remained the same: to help the public make informed decisions when hiring an attorney or law firm.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings System
Previously, the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rating system contained two components.
- Legal Ability Rating: Considered the attorney’s professional expertise, qualifications, and abilities. These ratings included C (Good to High), B (High to Very High), and A (Very High to Preeminent)
- General Ethical Standards Rating: Considered the attorney’s adherence to ethical standards of conduct, including reliability, diligence, and other professional criteria. This component included only one rating: V (Very High). An attorney could not receive a legal ability rating until they had been endorsed for the V General Ethical Standards Rating.
You may still see attorneys who have received ratings from the above system. However, today, attorneys can receive one of the following ratings through the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rating system:
- AV Preeminent: The highest peer rating given to attorneys with exceptional professional excellence within their ethical standards, legal expertise, and communication skills
- Distinguished: An excellent rating for attorneys with some experience and high levels of professional achievement and ethics
- Notable: A rating given to attorneys recognized for strong ethical standards
When searching for an experienced, ethical, and qualified divorce attorney to handle your divorce, we recommend considering only those with the AV Preeminent rating.
Why Is a Law Firm’s Martindale-Hubbell Rating Important?
Martindale-Hubbell established its rating system with the sole purpose of helping consumers evaluate law firms before working with them. As a result, an attorney or law firm’s Martindale-Hubbell rating is one of the best indicators you can review when searching for the right divorce and family law firm for your needs.
When you find a lawyer or law firm that has received an AV Preeminent rating, you can feel confident it will provide legal services with the highest professional and ethical standards. A firm with a “Notable” rating may meet ethical standards but does not yet have the experience to provide the exceptional legal services you need to find more peace at home.
If you feel like it’s time to make a change in your toxic environment, working with a top-tier law firm is essential to your case outcomes and happiness after your divorce. When you choose an AV Preeminent divorce and family law firm, you can expect to receive excellent services and guidance to streamline your divorce process. You can also know that your attorney will pour years of experience and the utmost ethical consideration into helping your case. Our Managing Partner and Divorce and Family Law Attorney, Sergio Cabanas, recently won the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, showcasing our exceptional professionalism and ethical commitment.
Contact Divorce & Mediation Law Firm | Cabanas Law Firm to Work with a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated Attorney
If you’re looking for a professional law firm to assist you with your divorce, our bilingual firm can help. At Divorce & Mediation Law Firm | Cabanas Law Firm, we go above and beyond to help our clients protect their children and assets during a divorce. Life is too short to be in the wrong relationship. Contact our Cabanas Law Firm today at (954) 447-2580, or fill out our online form, to schedule your confidential consultation.
